LOCAL SCHOOLS WIN BIG IN STEM COMPETITION, MOVE ON TO NATIONALS - Several Ohio and Pennsylvania Schools Competed in Regional Competition Last Week

WARRENDALE, Pa., March 14, 2013 - Last week, more than 15 schools and 100 students traveled to two regional events to compete in SAE International’s F1 in Schools program, to race a miniature Formula OneTM car they had designed and built in the classroom.

These regional competitions challenged middle and high school students to form teams to take part in a real world engineering initiative that creates a fun and motivating environment where students engage in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning. The activities took place in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, March 7 and in Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 9.

“Each team of students that participated in these events has already begun preparing for a successful future in a STEM field,” said Chris Ciuca, Director of Pre-Professional Programs, SAE International. “SAE is proud to provide students with this hands-on experience in the engineering process, and looks forward to seeing how these students become a positive influence in the STEM education movement.”

The teams designed a model Formula One Car using 3D CAD software and then manufactured their model using CAM software and a CNC machine. They raced the cars as well as conducted a verbal presentation and an engineering interview.

Each team was judged based on the safety, aerodynamics, engineering, aesthetics, quality and manufacturing, race times, pit display, portfolio and verbal presentation. After the teams raced their model F1 cars, the judges deliberated and identified winners for various categories, including overall winner, best portfolio, fastest car, best verbal presentation and more (see full list on page 2).

The top three teams in each section are eligible to move onto the U.S. National Competition at Michigan International Speedway on May 10 – 11. The national competition provides the platform for U.S. teams who qualify to attend to compete for the chance to travel to the World F1 in Schools Competition to represent the United States. This year’s world competition will take place in Austin, Texas, in November.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

Overall ChampionCobra TeamMedina County Career Center Best Portfolio Cobra TeamMedina County Career CenterBest Engineered CarCobra TeamMedina County Career Center2nd Place OverallRoyal RacersMedina County Career CenterFastest Car (time of 1.162)Royal RacersMedina County Career Center3rd Place OverallBallistic RacingCaldwell High School1st Place Middle School TeamBlack WidowsRiver Valley MS

All participating schools: Caldwell High School, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Lynchburg-Clay High School, Medina County Career Center and River Valley Middle School

All participating schools: Brentwood High School, Donegal Junior High School, Elizabethtown Area High School, Manheim Township High School, Pine Richland High School, South Park High School, Springdale High School and Wilson West Middle School